John W. Houston
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(February 2013) |
John W. Houston | |
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Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromDelaware'sAt-largedistrict | |
In office March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1851 | |
Preceded by | George B. Rodney |
Succeeded by | George R. Riddle |
Personal details | |
Born | Concord, Delaware | May 4, 1814
Died | April 26, 1896 Georgetown, Delaware | (aged 81)
Political party | Whig Democratic |
Residence | Georgetown, Delaware |
Alma mater | Yale College |
Profession | lawyer |
John Wallace Houston(May 4, 1814 – April 26, 1896) was an American lawyer and politician from Georgetown, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party and the Democratic Party, who served as U.S. Representative from Delaware and a Justice of Delaware Superior Court.
Early life and family
[edit]Houston was born on May 4, 1814, inConcord,Delaware, attended the country schools and Newark Academy, and graduated fromYale Collegein 1834. While at Yale he was initiated into one of the earliest gatherings of theSkull and BonesSociety.[1]He studied law inDover,Delaware and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1837. He then moved to Georgetown, Delaware in 1839 and commenced the practice of law. He was a slaveholder.[2]
Professional and political career
[edit]Houston wasSecretary of State of Delawarefrom 1841 to 1844, and was elected as aWhigto the 29th, 30th, and 31st Congress, serving from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1851. While in the House he was chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds for the 30th Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1850, and was appointed associate judge of theDelaware Superior Courton May 4, 1855, retiring in 1893. Houston was a member of thePeace Conference of 1861,held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending Civil War.
Death and legacy
[edit]Houston died at Georgetown, and is buried in theLewes Presbyterian Churchcemetery at Lewes, Delaware. His nephew,Robert G. Houston,was also a U.S. Representative from Delaware.
See also
[edit]Almanac
[edit]Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two-year term.
Public Offices | ||||||
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Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | notes | |
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | March 4, 1845 | March 3, 1851 | ||
Associate Justice | Judiciary | Georgetown | May 4, 1855 | 1893 | Delaware |
United States Congressional service | ||||||
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Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | President | Committees | Class/District |
1845–1847 | 29th | U.S. House | Democratic | James K. Polk | at-large | |
1847–1849 | 30th | U.S. House | Whig | James K. Polk | Public Buildings and Grounds | at-large |
1849–1851 | 31st | U.S. House | Democratic | Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore |
at-large |
Election results | |||||||||||
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Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
1844 | U.S. Representative | John W. Houston | Whig | 6,229 | 51% | George R. Riddle | Democratic | 6,023 | 49% | ||
1846 | U.S. Representative | John W. Houston | Whig | 6,254 | 51% | John I. Dilworth | Democratic | 6,007 | 49% | ||
1848 | U.S. Representative | John W. Houston | Whig | 6,630 | 50% | William G. Whiteley | Democratic | 6,026 | 49% | ||
1852 | U.S. Representative | John W. Houston | Whig | 6,360 | 44% | George R. Riddle | Democratic | 6,692 | 50% |
References
[edit]- ^Millegan, Kris (2003). "The Skeleton Crew".Fleshing Out Skull and Bones: Investigations into America's Most Powerful Secret Society.Walterville, OR: Trine Day. pp. 597–690.ISBN0-9720207-2-1."This list is compiled from material from the Order of Skull and Bones membership books atSterling Library,Yale University and other public records. The latest books available are the 1971Living membersand the 1973Deceased Membersbooks. The last year the members were published in theYale Banneris 1969. "
- ^Weil, Julie Zauzmer; Blanco, Adrian; Dominguez, Leo (10 January 2022)."More than 1,800 congressmen once enslaved Black people. This is who they were, and how they shaped the nation".Washington Post.Retrieved16 April2022.Updated 12 April 2022
- Martin, Roger A. (2003).Delawareans in Congress: The House of Representatives, Vol. One 1789-1900.Newark: Roger A. Martin.ISBN0-924117-26-5.
- Wilson, W. Emerson (1969).Forgotten Heroes of Delaware.Cambridge, Massachusetts: Deltos Publishing Company.
Places with more information
[edit]- Delaware Historical Society;website;505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware;Library website;181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965
External links
[edit]- 1814 births
- 1896 deaths
- Yale College alumni
- People from Dover, Delaware
- Secretaries of State of Delaware
- Delaware lawyers
- Delaware Whigs
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Delaware
- Associate Judges of Delaware
- Burials in Sussex County, Delaware
- Delaware Democrats
- Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 19th-century American legislators
- 19th-century American judges
- 19th-century American lawyers
- Members of Skull and Bones